May 8, 1789
For many years now, many subjects, especially the Third Estate, were eager to change the laws of the government. The one that is most despised by the peasants in the meeting that I lead and perform, is the feudal system. We do think its utterly unjust for us to work for the lords when we do not get anything in return. Apparently, it is just our duty to listen to our lords and do what they say. Are we mere toys? What rights do they have to order us around like that not even bothering to consider our opinions. We want our voices to be heard.
An Estate General meeting was held where delegates had a heated conversation on whether or not votes should be taken into consideration by blocks or heads. For us, the Third Estate, people wanted to vote by heads because of the huge difference between the populations between the blocks. 98 percent of the people in France are in the Third Estate, and to have the equal amount of votes as the other one percents in the other blocks? It is unjust of the country to even consider that option.
A few days ago, an idea of a National Assembly, only consisting of the Third Estates where we pass laws was brought up by a man named Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès. Many subjects thought this was a clever idea. Only yesterday, we had our first meeting, when I met a Third Estate lady, Véronique (Veronica) Bonnet. She was in a higher position than I was, even though we were both in the Third Estate; she was an artist and a writer while i was a peasant. We formally discussed of the problems that we, individually are having and naturally agreed that the formation of the National Assembly was inevitable when the government would not even listen to the opinions of the Third Estate. She was a bright and pleasant lady, whom I wish to meet again the next assembly.
Of what I've heard from my fellow followers of my meetings, the King is outraged of the mere idea of the National Assembly. He wishes to have full power over the government. However, we know that that is impossible for his idea of 'equal power' between the three estates is just ignorant and stubborn of him. He must have known that there would be some kind of a revolt in the Third Estate if he tried to give them the same amount of power as the other two estates when they had almost a hundredth less population.
I am all for making the National Assembly and having some kind of a governmental power of our own. I wish to lead the followers of my meetings to join the fight and let their voices be heard. Our lives would be a lot more comfortable and easy if the revolution was successful because I would be able to let my voice be heard to the delegates.
-Jacqueline-Adelle Cartier
Journal Entry #2
January 23rd 1793
Just a few days ago, a great event occurred that will go down in the history of France. It was the time when France had finally become a democracy. For centuries France has had a monarchy where a king rules the whole country with no restrictions. However, now, thanks to the Jacobins, France is a democracy. They have developed the rights of man where everyone is equal under the law. They took over Church lands and declared that Church officials and priests were to be elected and paid as state officials.
The news of them taking over Church alarmed me along with many other peasants. We were devoted Catholics and we were afraid of what this would mean to Church. The Jacobins created a Legislative Assembly that later split in three. Along with us, peasants, other empires and countries such as Prussia was alarmed and they urged France to restore Louis's position. This later eventually developed into a war. A few months later Louis was tried for treason and he was put to death on the guillotine. Many people honored him even as he was sentenced to death. We were furious of his death for he was a great king and we never wanted his death.
A few days ago, my group of peasant women held a small meeting in which we discussed about the problems of the Jacobins. Marie Louise, one of my favorite people filled with clever ideas was also there. She is always filled with great ideas that keep the subject of the meetings lively. Yes, the Jacobins did get rid of the feudal system; the system that we had been so against ever since we were born. We praised them for that but we believed that they went a little too far taking the power of Church and executing the king. We didn't see that as a necessity. They even started a war with Prussia that we will have to suffer through because of the shortage of food. Even as we thank them for their choice to get rid of the feudal system, we do not support the Jacobins because they took things too far and did what was best for them instead of for the whole country.
I wish to stay quiet of this event however because after all, the Jacobins did get rid of the feudal system. Even though I am opposed to them, I do not wish to start a riot. What the Jacobins did changed my whole life style. I wouldn't have to work every single day on the field because I do not have to serve a lord. I can do things for myself. It is a great pleasure knowing that I have some freedom. However, the start of the war has started another war within my life because it still cages me from what I really want to be. All I can hope for, right this moment is just for the war to end.
I hope that for once that I can have peace and freedom.
-Jacqueline-Adelle Cartier
Journal Entry #3
February 9th, 1810
So much has changed since I last wrote to you. Some are good and some are bad. First off, there is another monarch in power, who goes by the name Napoleon Bonaparte. He started off as a simple lieutenant in the artillery, but he became known to the world due to his successes during wars. He greatly expanded the french territory and won all the wars he ever participated and fought in. He is a great leader and I praise him mostly for the fact that he restored the position of the Church, and he abolished the taxation system. It feels like everything is back to normal again, but only with a more powerful leader. I have wanted to Church to be back in power ever since it changed, and I have wanted the taxation system abolished since I could even remember. Some of my fellow friends who also work in the fields for the same noble, Antoine de Bosc, rejoiced the fact that the taxation system had been abolished. I felt whole and free when the taxation system had been gotten rid of. I felt like I could do anything in the world.
People call this change, the change that has happened from the reign of Louis XIV to the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Revolution. I guess it is very accurate of them to call it the revolution because it is exactly what it is. It is a sudden change over a short period of time. Many people have suffered because of this revolution, and not many people are grateful for it because it did not benefit any of the estates in any way.
The First and Second Estate were considered the enemies when France became a secular state, during a short period of the French Revolution and thousands of people from every estate died because some had refused to sign an oath to the government, because they were revolutionaries and so on. The Third Estate, which I think suffered the most, had to work with no bread or food because of the famine. We didn't even have the money to buy foods with. People competed to just be able to feed themselves.
A lot has happened over a short period of time. In less than a year, we had France become a very unstable monarchy from a somewhat stable one with a new monarch in power. What I can say about the French Revolution is that it has put my life through a lot. Not many people like to see a whole country/empire flipped upside and down in less than a year. Even though some good has come out of it, such as the Napoleonic Code, which now protects my rights, and a more stable power in control, I still hope that it hadn’t happened. After all, even though it might benefit the future, the people that had to live through the French Revolution, as I, are in much confusion of what is happening, still. It was a very hard time to live through and I know that it will go down in the history of the world. Even though it has hurt many people as individuals now, especially the execution of more than 10 000 people through the change in power, I hope it will benefit the future in some way and make it a much better place than it is now.
Journal Entry #1
May 8, 1789
For many years now, many subjects, especially the Third Estate, were eager to change the laws of the government. The one that is most despised by the peasants in the meeting that I lead and perform, is the feudal system. We do think its utterly unjust for us to work for the lords when we do not get anything in return. Apparently, it is just our duty to listen to our lords and do what they say. Are we mere toys? What rights do they have to order us around like that not even bothering to consider our opinions. We want our voices to be heard.
An Estate General meeting was held where delegates had a heated conversation on whether or not votes should be taken into consideration by blocks or heads. For us, the Third Estate, people wanted to vote by heads because of the huge difference between the populations between the blocks. 98 percent of the people in France are in the Third Estate, and to have the equal amount of votes as the other one percents in the other blocks? It is unjust of the country to even consider that option.
A few days ago, an idea of a National Assembly, only consisting of the Third Estates where we pass laws was brought up by a man named Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès. Many subjects thought this was a clever idea. Only yesterday, we had our first meeting, when I met a Third Estate lady, Véronique (Veronica) Bonnet. She was in a higher position than I was, even though we were both in the Third Estate; she was an artist and a writer while i was a peasant. We formally discussed of the problems that we, individually are having and naturally agreed that the formation of the National Assembly was inevitable when the government would not even listen to the opinions of the Third Estate. She was a bright and pleasant lady, whom I wish to meet again the next assembly.
Of what I've heard from my fellow followers of my meetings, the King is outraged of the mere idea of the National Assembly. He wishes to have full power over the government. However, we know that that is impossible for his idea of 'equal power' between the three estates is just ignorant and stubborn of him. He must have known that there would be some kind of a revolt in the Third Estate if he tried to give them the same amount of power as the other two estates when they had almost a hundredth less population.
I am all for making the National Assembly and having some kind of a governmental power of our own. I wish to lead the followers of my meetings to join the fight and let their voices be heard. Our lives would be a lot more comfortable and easy if the revolution was successful because I would be able to let my voice be heard to the delegates.
-Jacqueline-Adelle Cartier
Journal Entry #2
January 23rd 1793
Just a few days ago, a great event occurred that will go down in the history of France. It was the time when France had finally become a democracy. For centuries France has had a monarchy where a king rules the whole country with no restrictions. However, now, thanks to the Jacobins, France is a democracy. They have developed the rights of man where everyone is equal under the law. They took over Church lands and declared that Church officials and priests were to be elected and paid as state officials.
The news of them taking over Church alarmed me along with many other peasants. We were devoted Catholics and we were afraid of what this would mean to Church. The Jacobins created a Legislative Assembly that later split in three. Along with us, peasants, other empires and countries such as Prussia was alarmed and they urged France to restore Louis's position. This later eventually developed into a war. A few months later Louis was tried for treason and he was put to death on the guillotine. Many people honored him even as he was sentenced to death. We were furious of his death for he was a great king and we never wanted his death.
A few days ago, my group of peasant women held a small meeting in which we discussed about the problems of the Jacobins. Marie Louise, one of my favorite people filled with clever ideas was also there. She is always filled with great ideas that keep the subject of the meetings lively. Yes, the Jacobins did get rid of the feudal system; the system that we had been so against ever since we were born. We praised them for that but we believed that they went a little too far taking the power of Church and executing the king. We didn't see that as a necessity. They even started a war with Prussia that we will have to suffer through because of the shortage of food. Even as we thank them for their choice to get rid of the feudal system, we do not support the Jacobins because they took things too far and did what was best for them instead of for the whole country.
I wish to stay quiet of this event however because after all, the Jacobins did get rid of the feudal system. Even though I am opposed to them, I do not wish to start a riot. What the Jacobins did changed my whole life style. I wouldn't have to work every single day on the field because I do not have to serve a lord. I can do things for myself. It is a great pleasure knowing that I have some freedom. However, the start of the war has started another war within my life because it still cages me from what I really want to be. All I can hope for, right this moment is just for the war to end.
I hope that for once that I can have peace and freedom.
-Jacqueline-Adelle Cartier
Journal Entry #3
February 9th, 1810
So much has changed since I last wrote to you. Some are good and some are bad. First off, there is another monarch in power, who goes by the name Napoleon Bonaparte. He started off as a simple lieutenant in the artillery, but he became known to the world due to his successes during wars. He greatly expanded the french territory and won all the wars he ever participated and fought in. He is a great leader and I praise him mostly for the fact that he restored the position of the Church, and he abolished the taxation system. It feels like everything is back to normal again, but only with a more powerful leader. I have wanted to Church to be back in power ever since it changed, and I have wanted the taxation system abolished since I could even remember. Some of my fellow friends who also work in the fields for the same noble, Antoine de Bosc, rejoiced the fact that the taxation system had been abolished. I felt whole and free when the taxation system had been gotten rid of. I felt like I could do anything in the world.
People call this change, the change that has happened from the reign of Louis XIV to the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Revolution. I guess it is very accurate of them to call it the revolution because it is exactly what it is. It is a sudden change over a short period of time. Many people have suffered because of this revolution, and not many people are grateful for it because it did not benefit any of the estates in any way.
The First and Second Estate were considered the enemies when France became a secular state, during a short period of the French Revolution and thousands of people from every estate died because some had refused to sign an oath to the government, because they were revolutionaries and so on. The Third Estate, which I think suffered the most, had to work with no bread or food because of the famine. We didn't even have the money to buy foods with. People competed to just be able to feed themselves.
A lot has happened over a short period of time. In less than a year, we had France become a very unstable monarchy from a somewhat stable one with a new monarch in power. What I can say about the French Revolution is that it has put my life through a lot. Not many people like to see a whole country/empire flipped upside and down in less than a year. Even though some good has come out of it, such as the Napoleonic Code, which now protects my rights, and a more stable power in control, I still hope that it hadn’t happened. After all, even though it might benefit the future, the people that had to live through the French Revolution, as I, are in much confusion of what is happening, still. It was a very hard time to live through and I know that it will go down in the history of the world. Even though it has hurt many people as individuals now, especially the execution of more than 10 000 people through the change in power, I hope it will benefit the future in some way and make it a much better place than it is now.
A much better place.
-Jacqueline-Adelle Cartier